Meet ‘Freedom Swimmer’ Author Wai Chim

Author Wai Chim to share stories as part of Write Around the Murray festival.

As part of Write Around the Murray, author Wai Chim will arrive in Albury next week to meet the kids of the Border and inspire them to start writing.

In 1972 a young Chinese man made the difficult decision to leave his friends and life behind and try to escape the Communist regime in his homeland.

In the middle of the night he walked out into the ocean and started swimming – braving distance, the sharks and the punishment he would face if he were to fail – all the way to Hong Kong.

This young man was Wai’s father and one of thousands of China’s young people who took extraordinary risks to find their freedom. His story inspired Wai’s fascinating Young Adult book, Freedom Swimmer. She will read an extract from this at the 6 x 6 Readings event on Friday 7 September at the Albury LibraryMuseum.

‘The Four Dragons’ – is a popular Chinese fairy tale, also written by Wai Chim.

Wai draws a lot on her cultural heritage in her books for young readers. Her Chook Chook series, for example, follows Mei, a little girl living on a farm in rural China.

On Saturday 8 September as part of WAM4Kids Wai Chim will be encouraging the budding young writers of the Border to help her tell the popular Chinese fairy tale, The Four Dragons. This is a fun and interactive opportunity to learn about dragons, Chinese culture and how to craft a great story.

Write Around the Murray (WAM) is Albury’s boutique festival of reading, writing, illustration and storytelling. Readers, writers, artists and storytellers gather from across the country to share stories, knowledge and skills as part of a diverse and invigorating program.

Weather

Albury

scattered clouds

enter location

28.8°C

30°

28°

37%

6.2kmh

40%

Thu

28°

Fri

20°

Sat

21°

Sun

20°

Mon

23°

Border Cafe is a locally owned and produced online magazine for Albury Wodonga and surrounds (North East Victoria, Southern NSW). We invite our readers to check-in, and be inspired by what’s happening in our backyard.

We shine a light on everything that’s great about living in or exploring our beautiful region.

Border Cafe Editor is Kylie King, an Albury Wodonga based journalist with more than twenty years of experience in the media industry.